Alleged victim in Hockey Canada sex assault lawsuit provides statement to “set the record straight”

The woman who filed a lawsuit against Hockey Canada is speaking out for the first time since news of her allegations and settlement became public.

The woman, through a press statement via her lawyer, says she has provided both Hockey Canada and the National Hockey League (NHL) with a “comprehensive written statement” about the 2018 incident at an event in London, Ontario. 

“The intention is to summarize her efforts and set the record straight,” reads the statement released on Tuesday, noting that previous reports that indicated the woman did not approach or cooperate with police are inaccurate.

“This woman has fully engaged and cooperated with all the legal and formal investigations surrounding these events. We ask that her privacy continue to be respected.”

The incident in question occurred at a Hockey Canada Gala in London  — the woman claimed she was assaulted by members of the 2018 junior team at the function.

In the statement, the woman says she notified London Police within a day of the incident, on June 22, 2018, and was told an investigation was underway. The same day she underwent a physical examination at a hospital.

It says she told police she wanted criminal charges pursued two days later and met with officers at a later date in June, and again on a date in August. The statement says the woman was informed in February 2019 that no charges would be laid in relation to the incident.

“After a period of reflection she next pursued the matter through formality of the civil justice system in the form of a lawsuit,” reads the statement. “That lawsuit was commenced on April 20, 2022 and was concluded by May 24, 2022.”

The statement goes on to say the woman underwent and passed a polygraph examination arranged by her lawyer’s office, after a series of text messages and videos were uncovered from the night of her alleged assault by members of the team.

The results of the polygraph were passed on to London Police, Hockey Canada, and the NHL.

Hockey Canada reopened investigation into 2018 sexual assault last month

Earlier this month, Hockey Canada announced they were reopening the investigation into the alleged sexual assault perpetrated by members of its junior team after the national governing body faced growing public scrutiny and lost sponsorships.

Hockey Canada says all players will now be required to take part in the third-party investigation, and any player who declines will be banned from the organization’s activities and programs. Players, coaches, and staff, will all be required to participate in “sexual violence and consent training.”

The woman, now 24, was seeking $3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League, and the unnamed players. Hockey Canada quietly settled the lawsuit in May, but no details of the settlement have been made public.

Hockey Canada chief executive officer (CEO) Scott Smith testified before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in June that Hockey Canada came up with the funds and paid the entire sum of the settlement, adding no government money was used.

The NHL is also conducting an investigation into the incident since some of the players from the team now play in the league.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Hockey Canada’s chief financial officer said last week the governing body has paid out $7.6 million in nine settlements since 1989, with most of that being to victims of sexual abuser Graham James.

That revelation came during ongoing hearings before the House of Commons heritage committee into how the governing body handled allegations of sexual assault.

Last month, the federal government said it was freezing funding to Hockey Canada amid the controversy surrounding the organization’s handling of the sexual assault allegations.

A number of corporate sponsors, including Tim Hortons, Scotiabank, Canadian Tire, and Telus, announced they were pausing their financial support until they determined the “right steps” were being taken.

With files from The Canadian Press.